Built on Bones: 15,000 Years of Urban Life and Death

From new diseases and physical dangers to subtle changes to our stature, humanity’s shift from hunter-gatherers to city dwellers has brought with it a host of bodily consequences. This week on the Science podcast, archaeologist Brenna Hassett describes what ancient remains and artifacts can reveal about how metropolitan life has wreaked havoc on our collective health.

TIM GAINEY/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Grinding grain on a stone quern (shown) may have led to skeletal wear and tear in early agrarian societies.

About the author

Jennifer Golbeck is at the Social Intelligence Lab, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.